The couple announced their decision to divorce in May 2021 after almost 30 years of marriage. It was completed in August 2021, but they continue to run their foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, together. Following the announcement of the divorce, Gates allegedly admitted to having an affair with a female Microsoft employee in 2000. A spokesman for the billionaire acknowledged that the affair took place and “ended amicably”. The Microsoft co-founder, who has a fortune of $ 132.3 billion (105 105.2 billion), had previously said that 2021 was a year of “great personal grief” for him in a blog post posted on his GatesNotes blog in December. In a new interview with the Sunday Times, Gates talked about his current working relationship with Melinda and how he feels about the end of their marriage. The business tycoon said that every marriage “goes through a transition” after the children have grown up and left the family home. “Unfortunately, mine went through this transition called divorce. But from my point of view it was a wonderful wedding. I would not change it. “You know, I would not choose to marry someone else.” Asked if he would remarry, Gates replied: “Yes. I’m talking about whether I would remarry Melinda. “As for my future, I have no plans, but I highly recommend marriage.” In March, Melinda told CBS News that she was looking forward to falling in love again. “I dip my toe in this water a little bit,” he said. “I feel like I’m in a very good place.” Melinda also revealed that there were “many things” that contributed to Gates’ decision to separate, including his relationship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. In an effort to raise money for his foundation, Gates had dinner with Epstein after he was convicted of sex. The billionaire later said the meetings were “wrong” and “regretted”. Melinda spoke about the only time she met Epstein and said that “she regretted it from the moment I entered the door”. “She was disgusted. He was a bad person. Then I had nightmares. “Well, you know, my heart breaks for these young women, because that’s how I felt, and here I am an older woman.” Asked about Epstein, Gates told the Sunday Times: “At the time, I did not realize that these meetings would be considered credible. You almost say, “I forgive this kind of behavior,” or something. “Clearly, as it seems, I made a huge mistake that I did not understand.”
